Monday, September 14, 2009

Book Blogger Appreciation

Today "book blogger appreciation week" begins, and many of the folks who like to talk about books will be making an extra effort to visit and appreciate each other. I've found some new book blogs in the past two months, and have listed them with my old favorites under "book blogs" on the left-hand sidebar. If you want to join in the fun, check them out.

Also, this morning I got Splashed by Kristin at BookNAround! So I've decided to name some other book blogs that didn't make the list for any BBAW awards this week but which amuse me, per the "Splash" rules:

Nominate 9 blogs that allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you, link to your nominees within your post, let your nominees know they have been splashed by commenting on their blogs, and link to the person who nominated you.

Pages Turned: As always, she's witty and contrary, concise and yet thorough. Look and see!Novel Readings: Her reviews can be quite academic, but she notices things no one else does--for instance, that reading Hosseini can be a form of "moral tourism."Stella Matutina: She makes connections between books and ideas that make me want to read books--mostly fantasy--of which I haven't previously heard.Diary of an Eccentric: She reviews a variety of new titles, and is invariably kind.A Bookworm's World: She reviews so many mysteries that I'll never run out of titles to consider.Texas Red Books: In addition to book ideas, she has prairie dog pictures. Where else can you see that?Bookgazing: She's literary and yet accessible.Farm Lane Books: She reads the books I wish I was making time for.Bookshelves of Doom: As always, she comments amusingly on most of the new YA titles.

There are certainly other book blogs that amuse me, but these are the not-already-shortlisted-for-awards ones that have made me both laugh and think in the past few months.

Rohan, I really didn't mean it as too-faint praise, but I wasn't feeling courageous about dragging you unbidden into the fast-growing world of amateur-reader book blogs. Um, I mean that some bloggers kind of prefer relative obscurity. Uh, now I sound like I see myself as some kind of mustache-twirling Victorian villain. What I mean is, um, uh, (shuffles feet) I like reading your blog and hope that others will, too.

Just Say No to Necromancy

My family was playing "Would You Rather" and got a card asking whether we'd rather have three questions answered or be able to resurrect someone. The kids and I went for the three questions, but Ron was hesitating over resurrection. "Oh come on," I said, "necromancy never pays; literature shows us this over and over.""Oh yeah," Ron said, "The Monkey's Paw."And then we went on to the next card. Some things are just clear, once you remember all the stuff you've read about them.

Why Should You Comment?

Because you don't want to be what Georgia Nicholson calls a "lurker."Because I'd love to hear if you disagree with me on anything, especially The Spoiler Manifesto, and I'm always looking for more book recommendations.I welcome comments on older posts, but have to moderate them due to immoderate levels of spam.